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'UK's innovation capital'

The Silverstone Technology Cluster (STC) held its annual conference last month and heard how it is set to become a key part of “the innovation capital of this country”.

Robert Jenrick MP (exchequer secretary to HM Treasury) emphasised the Government’s endorsement of the STC’s high-tech activity and growth ambitions.

He told the audience: “This is more than just part of a country that’s a collection of businesses; you could be the innovation capital of this country and a national — if not global — asset, and one that we in Government want to ensure thrives and fulfills its full potential.

“Whether it is the universities you have, the fantastic businesses large and small, the innovative people, the very international population that we have in this area — everything leads us to back to the belief that this could be one of the great engines of economic growth for our country and beyond.”

The STC (www.silverstonetechnologycluster.com) — the region within an hour’s drive of Silverstone on the Buckinghamshires-Northamptonshire border — is home to 3,500 high-tech businesses from start-ups and SMEs to larger organisations.

Many of them have a history in motor-sport, but a large percentage are now applying their skills and technologies to serving other sectors such as aerospace, automotive, defence, marine, medical devices, electronics and software development.

STC chairman Roz Bird said: “Robert Jenrick’s presentation was really heartening for the region’s business community — to label it a capital of innovation for the country is a fantastic endorsement from government.

“We have been talking with Robert for the past 24 months about what we are doing as a cluster organisation; he really understands the potential that is here, which is what we are all about — helping our companies to spot growth opportunities and maximise their potential.”